Improvement in book-supports or desks



G. B. s. NORT HROP. BOOK-SUPPORTS on DESKS. 3 ,o5z Patented Ju1y18.1876.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITMQGFIAPHER, WASHINGTON. DIR

-; ITED S ATES GEORGE B. SEARS NORTHROP, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS OR DESKS.-

Specificationfltorming part of Letters Patent No. 180,052, dated July18, 1876; application filed June 10, 1876.

To all whom it may concern vBe it known that I, GEORGE B. SEARSNORTIIROP, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to'make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form-a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the coustruction'and arrangementof an adjustable desk, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing,Figure l is a trans verse vertical .section of mydesk. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section of thesame when folded or closed.

A represents the bottom, and B the top, of my desk, made of wood ormetal, or both, or of any other suitable material QrmateriaIs, and ofany desired dimensions, according to the use to which the desk is to beput. These two parts are connected by a center leaf, 0, hinged at oneend to the front of the bottom A, and at the other end to the rear ofthe top B, or vice versa. Around the edges of the bottom A is an u)wardly-projecting flange, a, of the same height as the thickness of theleaf 0, so that when the desk is folded or closed the top B will comedown and rest upon the flange a, while the leaf 0 is entirely hidbetween them. At each endof the top B, on the under side, to both thefront and rear edges, are, hinged series of pawls or arms D D of unequallength, which are to take into ratchet-teeth b in the upper'surl'ace ofthe bottom A, whereby the top may be sustained at any height desired,and at any inclination, both back and front, from horizontal to an angleof forty-five degrees or more. Along the frontedge of the top A is aflange, cl, as shown, to hold the books placed on the desk.

This deskanay be used for large ledgers in banks, insurance oflices, andmercantile houses, for library use, for pulpit use, forjewelers,music-stand, easel, and variety of other purposes. 7

The ratchet-teeth b on the bottom A are arranged from both front andrear, as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is I The combination of the bottomA, with ratchet-teeth I), the top B,,hinged connectingleafG, and thepawls or arms l),-all constructed substantially as and for the purposesherein set forth.

In testimonv that I claim the ioregoiug' as -my own 1, affix mysignature in presence of two WltllQSStS.

GEORGE E. SEARS NORTHROP.

Witnesses:

WM. L. DOUGLASS, T. SNYDER.

